Do Teens Working Two Jobs Have An Advantage?

When someone wants to earn more money to meet their needs or cover certain expenses, I often tell them to start a side hustle or get a second job. Managing an additional job can be tough, but it’s a sacrifice people make in order to improve their finances – and possibly their lives.

I recently asked myself if managing two jobs can be any easier for a teen., More than 4.7 million teenagers have a job, and it’s becoming more and more common to work throughout high school and college, according to CNN Money.

While I couldn’t find any statistics or studies about teens who work two jobs, I had plenty of reason to believe some teens experience the same hustle and bustle that adults do when managing multiple jobs. After all, I worked two jobs at age 19, and my sister – who is currently 17 – has taken on the responsibility of working two jobs.

A Typical Day

The popular stereotypes may portray teen life as glamorous, carefree, and spontaneous, but for working teens, it’s a different story. When I worked two jobs, a typical work day for me involved heading to my job at a local grocery store in the morning around 9:30 a.m. and working until 4:30 p.m.

Then I changed quickly and drove across the street to start my evening closing shift at a restaurant from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. It was tiring work that was spent waiting for each hour to pass by, but I rested up on off days, balanced my college courses during that semester, and tried to enjoy the little free time I had.

As for my sister, as a recent high school grad, she’s taking advantage of her free time this summer to work at an electronics store during the daytime and at a restaurant during the evening. She works about five days each week, and some days she works both jobs like I once did.

Why Pick Up an Extra Job?

Many factors could come into play when determining whether or not to work a second job as a teen. Money is a huge motivator, seeing as how some teens have responsibilities like paying for a cell phone bill, car insurance, or gas, along with saving up for college-related expenses.

We live in a world where everything revolves around money, and by the time you reach a certain age, you understand that you need to have money not only for bare necessities, but to fund experiences in your life and meet other goals.

And gaining more work experience and making good use of your time can be an additional motivator.

Most employers lean toward hiring people who have related work experience, or whose experience demonstrates they are hardworking, self-disciplined, and reliable. While working one part-time job can certainly set you on the right track, working two jobs can provide you with more money, diversified income, a wider skill set, and more stability.

The Problem With the Minimum Wage Debate

Raising minimum wage in the U.S. has been a long-term debate between employers and young or inexperienced workers who long to earn a more livable wage. According to Employment Policies Institute, high minimum wage rates actually price teens out of jobs, prompting employers to hire fewer employees or give them fewer hours because they can’t afford to pay the higher wages.

Thus, teen workers who earn minimum wage or slightly higher wages often don’t get the number of hours they desire, which is what prompted my sister to seek an additional job.

She still doesn’t work 40 hours per week, even between both jobs, but she hovers around 30 to 35 hours – a schedule she couldn’t gain from working just one entry-level job that doesn’t require a degree.

It’s easy to find a summer or part-time job that will offer you 15 to 20 hours per week as a teen, but if you need more work, you may need to add another employer to your roster.

Pros and Cons

Teens should think carefully about doubling up on jobs because there are a few setbacks that come with working so much. My sister has expressed that her personal life and sleep schedule have suffered since she started working two jobs. She doesn’t go on spontaneous outings with friends due to her work schedule, but plans social time around both jobs.

On the positive side, she’s earning enough money to jump-start a savings buffer and to pay for her school books and any expenses that may come up when she attends college in the fall. This will help her avoid going into debt, which in turn could help her avoid having to work two jobs once her expenses and responsibilities increase later on in life.

It’s definitely a balancing act, but right now, she is pleased with the place she is in financially, personally, and socially. That’s what counts. If you can manage to hold two jobs down without stressing yourself out, then do it. If you can’t, drop one. Simple.